I think it's one thing to politely point out to someone that they could find the answer elsewhere and it's totally another to call them stupid and lazy when unprovoked.

Besides, the internet is today's version of the library. I think it's awsome that a forum like this exists to answer just about any question someone has on ham radio. What's better for finding the information you want than to ask professionals, Elmers, and old timers. If that's a bad thing, we should just pack up and forget it.

The internet is not a library. It would be wonderful if it was, I'd spend a lot more time here.

It's fine that people ask questions here and on many reflectors...that's the whole reason for their existence. But when you ask a question, here's the problems:

-You might get a good answer, and then you've learned that one; or,

-You might get a horrible answer, and assume it's the truth, and you've thus not only learned nothing, but might possibly spend a lot of time going down the wrong path; or,

-You may get conflicted answers, all of which are simply opinions and not facts, and just become confused.

In the very best case, you'll learn one new thing by obtaining the correct answer.

If, instead of posting a single question and receiving a single (correct, and wonderful) answer, you went to a library and took out a book covering the subject of interest, and actually read the book: Now, you will likely have a good and correct answer to your question, and very likely answers to hundreds of related questions that you hadn't even thought of.

That's called learning.

Our fellow amateurs asking questions here, unless they take another approach soon, will never be able to "Elmer" anyone, because the only things they'll know will be a patchwork quilt of opinions with no fabric to tie it all together.

"Once upon a time, when people were actually interested in ham radio"...operators displayed courtesy and a willingness to help others learn and grow in the hobby. Back when my dad was a ham, it appears to have been the golden era of Elmers. Experienced operators answered questions, and gave new hams friendly feedback and advice.

Your posts demonstrate that as ham radio was "dumbed down" it was also "jack-assed up". Your smart ass angry answer to a simple and reasonable question makes me also long for the old days. Not because hams were more educated, but because they displayed manners you don't have.

If questions like this anger you so much, you should go elsewhere for entertainment. The questions here are only going to raise your blood pressure.

I am not sure why I am going to reply to this but why not join the fun.

Comment By WA4DOU: "that guys can hold Extra Class licenses and have not progressed beyond "puberty."

Response: I recieved my license at the age of 12. Now I was a novice and not sure at what stage of puberty I was in but my maturity had progressed farther than SOME (WINK) extra class hams.

Comment By WA4DOU: "Once upon a time, when most folks were actually interested in amateur radio, they took it upon themselves to invest time into study beyond the actual mechanics of taking a license exam and they wanted to learn."

Response: The internet is a resource to study beyond the actual mechanics of taking the test. We must use this advancement in science as a source also, just the way SOME have taken to VIAGRA.

<Questions like this used to be intuitively understood by even the rankest newcomers and it is questions like this that cause so many to point in proof that amateurs have been dumbed down. Its hard to argue with the conclusion.>

Shame on folks like this. Someone came here in the search for an answer from those that know more than they do. Instead, we get this smart mouth blasting the gentleman that needed help. I'd bet my resume' would hold water with his any day of the week, and yet I have questions all the time. The day I know everything about HAM radio is the day I do something else for a hobby.

This is an Elmer's forum. If you don't care to help, and nobody asked you to, don't post. If your goal as a teacher is to prove to your students that they are stupid, I can assure you that you are of no use to anyone here.

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